A man suspected of stealing approximately $1,500 in liquor from Kroger in Bowling Green led police in a chase, driving a rented U-Haul truck on Wednesday evening.
Michigan State Patrol was able to apprehend one suspect, with two still at large.
Bowling Green Police Lt. Adam Skaff said the men reportedly walked out of Kroger, on North Main Street, with carts full of unpaid liquor and other items around 7:45 p.m. They then took off in the U-Haul, heading south on North Main Street, the east on Poe Road.
According to the officer’s report, the U-Haul was traveling at a high rate of speed and swerving in and out of traffic on East Poe Road. The truck recklessly passed another vehicle almost causing a head-on collision by the old golf course. The U-Haul then failed to stop for the stop sign at Poe and Dunbridge roads.
The U-Haul continued south on Dunbridge Road, then turned west on East Wooster Street. According to the police report, the U-Haul drove off the right side of the road and onto the pedestrian sidewalk. There was a soccer practice with several dozen children in the field next to the sidewalk, according to the report. The U-Haul continued to the second roundabout, where it went the wrong way on the roundabout and crossed the curb to enter the I-75 south entrance ramp.
On I-75, the U-Haul continued to drive erratically, swerving on the roadway, according to the officer in pursuit. Just south of Napoleon Road, the driver turned left into the turnaround, struck the “No U-turn” sign and hit a culvert, almost turning the truck on its side. The truck recovered and continued north on I-75.
Bowling Green Police maintained their pursuit, with the U-Haul truck reaching speeds of 75 on I-75, Skaff said. BGPD discontinued pursuit at the Michigan state line on U.S. 23. Michigan troopers were able to arrest the driver, but the passengers – one man and one woman – ran and were not found.
Christopher Harris, 54, of Ann Arbor, was arrested for felony theft and failure to comply.
